Published: Saturday, August 31, 2013 at 3:15 a.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, September 1, 2013 at 1:20 a.m.

CLEMSON – Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd said after a win over LSU in the Outback Bowl to end last season that he and the rest of the Tigers had gotten over the hump and belonged in the conversation with the nation’s elite.

Boyd and Clemson further solidified their case with a 38-35 win over Georgia Saturday night at Death Valley as the Heisman hopeful led his team to a second straight victory over a top-10 SEC team.

“(It was) a very monumental win for this university, for the program, for the conference in general,” Boyd said. “I think it was a good win, nothing that we didn’t expect as a program, but I think it turned a lot of heads in the college football world.”

The senior made big plays with both his arm and legs, passing for 270 yards and three touchdowns and rushing for 42 yards and two scores. He did not have a turnover.

“He made plays with his feet. He extended plays when things weren’t happening,” Clemson offensive coordinator Chad Morris said. “To see him do that, I thought was outstanding tonight.”

Boyd got off to a hot start, completing 5-for-7 for 138 yards and a touchdown in the first quarter, including a connection with Sammy Watkins on a 77-yard touchdown pass for the longest completion of his career.

"He played like a veteran quarterback is supposed to play," Morris said. "He was never rattled. He was never shook."

Boyd had his best stretch of the game when the Tigers needed it the most.

He completed 10 straight passes during a portion of the third quarter as No. 8 Clemson, which was tied with Georgia at 21 at the half, built a 31-28 lead entering the fourth.

“I guess in the game you just get in a flow,” Boyd said. “You get in a groove. Once you do that you don’t really kind of know what’s going on around you.”

Boyd went 10-for-12 for 101 yards and a touchdown in the third period, leading Clemson to two scoring drives, which ended with a touchdown and field goal.

Boyd wasn't done yet. With the Tigers leading 31-28 entering the fourth, Boyd led a 12-play, 87-yard touchdown drive that totaled 4:23 and put Clemson ahead by 10, the largest lead for either team.

The drive was capped by a 9-yard touchdown pass from Boyd to Stanton Seckinger.

Seckinger was originally marked down short of the goal line, but after a review, he was awarded the score.

The pass was critical, coming on third-and-goal from the 9-yard line. Had Clemson not converted the touchdown it would have been forced to attempt a field goal, which would have given the Tigers just a six-point lead.

With his performance, Boyd likely improved his Heisman chances, but he is not thinking about that right now.

“I would much rather us be in the national championship race than me be a Heisman contender,” he said. “It’s an honor just to be mentioned with it.”

Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.